Sticky Purple Geranium
Geranium viscosissimum
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
iNaturalist: © ahawse (iNaturalist #170394730)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Geraniaceae
- Genus:
- Geranium
- Species:
- Geranium viscosissimum
- USDA Symbol:
- GEVI2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, lavender
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rootstock following fire; commonly found in post-fire plant communities in mountain meadows.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to open woods and meadows
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds may have erratic germination; cold stratification improves rates. Light not required for germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are scarified in a brief, 5 to 10 second hot water bath, then transferred to cold water and left overnight. Seeds that were not imbibed are re-scarified with another hot water bath followed by 24 hr cold water soak. Following scarification, seeds are stratified for 30 to 60 days at 1 to 3 C.
Establishment: Seeds are hand collected in mid August when the capsules turn tan and before they begin to split along the septa. Seeds are gray to brown at maturity. Capsules are collected in paper bags and are spread out in a well ventilated greenhouse. Capsules dehisce forcefully. For efficient seed collection, wrap developing seed capsules in fine mesh bags that allow light transmission when capsules are near maturity. Seeds will be captured in bags as the capsules open.
Source: npn.rngr.net